![WaylandCAN, a nonprofit focused on building community in Wayland held an event on Tuesday Nov. 19 at Loker Elementary School.
“I've never seen a community come together and be vulnerable like that in front of [others] where people were not only sharing, but getting emotional and the respect was incredible,” Wayland resident Stuti Bhargava said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/5xXGzZO9uoYmIEmB46rs4ssfAfJX9WlLnFCTIZdi-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Benjamin Hammond solos "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles as part of the T-Tones performance. "[Twist and Shout] is one of my favorite songs, and with the amount of vocal harmony it has I figured it would be good for A Capella," Hammond said. "[Twist and Shout] has pretty simple rhythms and awesome energy, which fits the vibe of the T-Tones. I arranged the song basically identical to how it is written, because I think the guitar riff, bass riff and the harmonies are all excellent as well as easy to sing."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/8E057B61-9507-4115-811F-93F1FB6F7EB4_1_105_c.jpg)
Wayland High School will host its second annual Wayland Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fair in the high school commons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. The event will be backed by the WHS Robotics Club and run by the president of Robotics Club, senior Eunjee Kang and co-organizer, senior Arya Samaratunga.
The STEM Fair is an outreach event that brings attention to high school STEM-based initiatives, while offering a place for community members to share their work and appreciate others. It’s a showcase of the recreational work students have completed in the science, technology, engineering and math departments.
While WHS’s other STEM related clubs are able to participate, anyone is welcome to sign up for a personal project they want to present at the fair. Kang and Samaratunga are striving to share the STEM Fair experience and benefits to as many people as possible by urging individuals of all ages to engage in the enriching opportunities of the fair.
When WHS hosted the event last year, it was targeted towards Wayland students exclusively and ended up with a turn out of around 150 guests and participants. This year, Kang and Samaratunga are aiming to increase the number of visitors and have invited all students interested in STEM from over 50 nearby districts.
While all interactions with the clubs are important, one of the major goals of the fair is to increase youth engagement in STEM fields. According to an article written by the American University’s School of Education, STEM concepts help children develop new ways of thinking, encouraging curiosity and analysis.
“One of our goals is also for [youth guests] to create a community within themselves,” Samaratunga said. “This way they’ll have a sense of belonging in STEM, even if they haven’t explored that field yet. It helps younger students see the opportunities that they’ll have later on in their STEM careers and just helps them interact and make connections with older students to see what’s out there.”
The STEM Fair is a celebration of curiosity and fascination that can be appreciated by everyone. Whether one wants to share the product of their research and effort, or just observe the work of others, there’s a place for it at the fair. While in some cases, presenting personal work can be difficult, the fair is designed to harbor curiosity and create a safe environment where people can learn from the product of others’ hard work. High school students and club members are encouraged to show off their projects, and children are urged to bring their families and explore the intricacy of the fair.
“Don’t be scared to put your projects out there, and try new projects,” Samaratunga said. “Be confident.”
